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Minister of Public Works, Thoko Didiza to launch intervention strategy for maintenance of government's infrastructure
16 May 2008
Just hours before her Budget Vote speech, the Minister of Public Works, Ms Thoko Didiza will unveil government's intervention strategy to curb the state of dilapidation of state-fixed assets and infrastructure called National Infrastructure Maintenance Strategy (NIMS) that will affect all spheres of government including parastatals. The launch of NIMS will take place in Cape Town on 21 May 2008.
To give a sense of the challenge lying ahead, almost 30 percent of the buildings owned by the state were in a poor to very poor condition, as compared to 25 percent which were good to very good, according to the Departmental Strategic Plan document (2008/11).
Under Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa (AsgiSA), government has recognised the importance of the maintenance of its infrastructure and the role that effective maintenance will play in support of economic growth, social development and effective service delivery, hence the launch of NIMS to drive the maintenance programme of government as a self contained industry.
To that effect, Cabinet has since tasked the national Department of Public Works to lead the drafting and the implementation of the programme to deliver on the strategy that will eventually contribute to the attainment of AsgiSA objectives.
Later, the Minister will proceed to present her Budge Vote to the National Assembly, covering details of the major programmes under her Department, most notably the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), the State Asset Portfolio Management as well as transformation updates regarding both the construction and property industries.
Launch of National Infrastructure Maintenance Strategy (NIMS) will take place as follows:
Date: 21 May 2008
Venue: Riboville Restaurant, 130 Adderley Street
Time: 10h00 to 13h00
Budge Vote session:
Date: 21 May 2008
Venue: Old Assembly Chambers, Parliament
Time: 14h00
Please RSVP:
Mahlatsi Mgidi
Cell: 083 375 2971 or 082 888 0836
Issued by: Department of Public Works
16 May 2008